Haydn's "The Lark" String Quartet

Franz Joseph Haydn, one of the classical period's most prolific and prominent composers, wrote at least sixty-eight authentic string quartets. To the average listener not familiar with Haydn's string quartets, many of them may sound the same. However, to the seasoned listener, each quartet has its own story to tell. Recently, I've been listening to Haydn's String Quartet in D Major, Op. 64 No. 5 "The Lark" composed in 1790. Here's an interesting fact: the quartet's nickname (not given by Haydn), comes from the high melodic lines of the first violin in the first movement's opening phrase. Watch a video of Mvmt. 1 from Haydn's "The Lark" String Quartet.